Arena Profile: Michael Arcuri

Michael A. Arcuri is an of counsel in the Litigation and Corporate Practices at Hancock Estabrook, LLP, one of the largest and oldest firms in Syracuse, New York. Mr. Arcuri focuses his practice on assisting clients with litigation, government affairs and corporate law related issues. He utilizes his diverse experience and years of public sector and economic development work to provide counsel on administrative and regulatory matters or issues that require interfacing with local governments, and the New York State or Federal governments. Mr. Arcuri was a member of Congress for New York’s 24th Congressional District from 2007 to 2010. While in Congress, he served as a member of the influential Rules Committee. He also served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, as well as the Economic Development, Water Resources and Environment, and Highways and Transit subcommittees. Mr. Arcuri was Oneida County’s longest serving District Attorney, during which time he helped to create the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center and served as President of the New York State District Attorney’s Association.

Michael Arcuri's Recent Discussions

Debt stalemate - who budges first?

Plus, can sportsmen rebuff enviro cuts?

It seems the House Republicans just keep moving the goal post and that is not negotiating in good faith. I think with each day that passes and each seemingly reasonable proposal that House Republicans reject, Republicans are moving further and further from the kind of compromise most Americans are hoping for.

Their unwillingness to work across the aisle seems to be casting President Obama and House Democrats as the adults in this debate. I don't know who will blink first but I do know we are rapidly approaching, or may already be at, the point where if the Democrats blink anymore, they will be perceived by America as standing for nothing.

Debt stalemate - who budges first?

Plus, can sportsmen rebuff enviro cuts?

Let's hope they don't win this argument. It shameful that some members of Congress are attempting to use this crisis to extract concessions for corporations that really don't need them.

So let's see if we have this right there isn't enough money to keep our water that we drink and need to live clean, there isn't enough money to keep the air that we breath and need to live clean, there isn't enough money to maintain Medicare for the elderly that need it at its present level, and there isn't enough money to continue Social Security for Americans that need it. But there is enough money to continue the Bush tax cuts for America's millionaires and billionaires, there is enough to continue IRS tax perks for America's millionaires and billionaires and the Republican members of Congress are trying to make that argument with a straight face.

Come on now - the Emperor Has No Clothes On and Americans really need to see this sham for what it is.

Has Michele Bachmann peaked too soon?

And in Arena Chat Rep. Fleming says no to tax hikes

It is always difficult to stay at the front of the pack in these long races but I think two factors will weigh heaviest on whether Congresswoman Bachmann maintains her early momentum. The first is will she make any major blunders or mistakes that will be picked up by the mainstream media. Nothing could more quickly derail her chances at winning the nomination than saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

The second factor, and one in which she has no control over is the possible entry of Sarah Palin. Gov. Palin’s entry could serve to seriously dilute Michele Bachmann’s conservative support.

Congresswoman Bachmann certainly has her work cut out for her if she wants to remain in the top tier of the Republican field. Of course, don’t rule her out for the vice president slot that she might, in reality, be playing for and that could be very appealing to a candidate like Mitt Romney. In the weeks ahead look to Bachmann’s attacks or lack thereof on the rest of the Republican field, that should be a indication of what her real end game may be.

Should Speaker John Boehner watch his back?

I am not sure where the center of power is within the Republican Conference in the House of Representatives but I am sure of one thing - this is no way to run a country. It is almost laughable the way congressional Republicans continue to assert that any additional taxes on the wealthiest Americans are jobs killers. Everyone knows the wealthiest Americans are the only ones whose pay has continued to rise, and disproportionately so, throughout the economic downturn and before. Clearly these wealthy Americans can afford to pay a little more in the way of taxes, much more than can the people on fixed incomes like Social Security can afford to get less. Yet we are not hearing nearly as much, in the way of complaints, from those who can expect their Social Security and Medicare to be cut, as we are from the Republicans on behalf of the wealthiest Americans.

America’s middle class needs to wake up because when they are done with those on fixed incomes, the poor and the elderly who cannot pose a united front to fight this injustice and there is still need for deficit reduction, they will next turn to the middle class. At that point it will be Middle America’s turn to be the target and they will be asked to make sacrifices to reduce the deficit, all the while the wealthiest Americans those who can afford it the most will continue to hide behind this myth that if taxes are raised on the wealthy it will result in job loss for middle class. That is just silly.

Will Hill Dems keep Obama in line on entitlements?

From a political perspective of course congressional Democrats have a reason to be unhappy. Being cast as the protectors of Medicare and Social Security is a great place to enter the 2012 Elections from and one I am sure they do not want to give up.

This clearly is a good issue for Democrats, as was demonstrated in the Democratic Special Election victory in the historically Republican NY 26th District in May of this year, where the Democratic candidate portrayed herself as a protector of Medicare and successfully painted the Republican candidate as one looking to cut it.

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The Arena is a cross-party, cross-discipline forum for intelligent and lively conversation about political and policy issues. Contributors have been selected by POLITICO staff and editors. David Mark, Arena's moderator, is a Senior Editor at POLITICO. Each morning, POLITICO sends a question based on that day's news to all contributors.